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Superconducting Spintronics

Superconducting spintronics is an emerging field of research that seeks to integrate the unique properties of superconductivity and spin-based electronics. This interdisciplinary approach aims to combine the dissipation-free transport of supercurrent with the spin manipulation capabilities of spintronics, offering the potential for low-power, high-speed computing. Spin-singlet Cooper pairs in proximity with different magnetic textures can exhibit various types of spin-triplet pairing, depending on the nature of the spin texture. Additionally, topological superconductivity, with its unique protected edge states, is another exciting area of research. These areas are particularly exciting in the context of heterostructures, where proximity effects between superconductors, magnets, and spin-orbit coupled materials can lead to emergent properties.

Within the broad umbrella of KOMQUEST, we aim to push the boundaries of superconducting spintronics by addressing key challenges. Our objectives are structured around three main themes: (i) generating spin-polarized supercurrents in magnetic Josephson junctions (JJs) and use of these supercurrents to manipulate and set the magnetic state of nanoscopic spin textures, (ii) uncovering the mechanisms that drive chiral and topological superconductivity, and (iii) exploring proximity effects in 2D magnet/superconductor (SC) heterostructures. By combining advanced experimental techniques, such as ultra-low temperature transport experiments, muon-spin resonance, scanning tunnelling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS), and material synthesis methods, we aim to pioneer novel
superconducting spintronic devices and uncover new quantum phenomena.

Visualization of spin manipulation in layered materials: panel A depicts spin mixing and rotation, panel B illustrates entangled spin states between two blocks, and panel C shows atomic layers of CrCl3 on NbSe2.

Objectives:
1. Artificially engineered spin-polarized supercurrents

  • Creation of spin triplet supercurrents in JJs with non-collinear magnets or materials with broken time reversal symmetry, or topological materials with spin-polarized surface states
  • Muon-spin resonance experiments to probe odd-parity and spin-triplet superconductivity

2. Topological chiral superconductivity in Kagome lattices

  • Understanding chiral superconductivity in Kagome lattice materials
  • Investigation of topological superconductivity using muon-spin resonance (µ-SR), transport and STM

3. Interaction of superconductors and 2D magnets

  • Growth of 2D van der Waals (vdWs) heterostructures using MBE and mechanical multilayer stacking techniques
  • STM/STS experiments to probe the in-gap state of an Ising-SC in proximity to a 2D magnet
  • Exploring topological superconductivity in different heterostructures
  • Magnetic proximity-induced superconducting diode effect in a vdWs heterostructure (e.g. NbSe2/CrPS4, NbSe2/(Fe,Ni,Mn)PS3)

 

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